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United States Patent | 6,204,635 |
Sullivan | March 20, 2001 |
A pressure actuated current interrupt device particularly useful for prismatic electrochemical cells has a cup-shaped member (12, 12', 12", 12'", 12.sup.IV, 12.sup.V, 12.sup.VI) mounted on the cover of the cell and arranged to protrude into the interior of the cell. The cup-shaped member can be formed either as a separate member or as a portion of a layer of a composite cover. The cup-shaped member has a side wall (12b) in which stress is created by pressure generated in the cell which acts on the generally flat end wall (12a) of the cup-shaped member. A selected amount of pressure causes the side wall to catastrophically collapse with the configuration of the cup-shaped member being inverted to permanently break the electric current path with a cover mounted terminal. A composite cover (8.sup.iv, 8.sup.v) includes a membrane layer in which the cup-shaped member is formed and which can also include a pressure vent (12g).
Inventors: | Sullivan; Steven K. (Cranston, RI) |
Assignee: | Texas Instruments Incorporated (Dallas, TX) |
Appl. No.: | 311489 |
Filed: | May 13, 1999 |
Current U.S. Class: | 320/134; 320/147; 429/53 |
Intern'l Class: | H01M 010/46 |
Field of Search: | 320/134,136,147,FOR 142,FOR 145 429/7,53,54,55,56,61,62,64,72,82,89,167,170,172 |
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